Barely few hours after former President Olusegun Obasanjo advised President Muhammadu Buhari not to seek re-election, the leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu and the former National Chairman of APC, Chief Bisi Akande are in closed-door meeting with the President. The two APC Chieftains arrived the State House about 4pm and went straight to the residence of the President within the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Recall that Asiwaju Tinubu and Chief Akande were absent at the last week’s dinner where President Buhari hosted APC leaders at the State House fueling the speculations that all may not be well in the party. Read more

Ooni suspends Oduduwa University’s founder over poetry (Punch)

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has suspended Chief Ramon Adedoyin, as the Maye of Ife, for allegedly releasing an ewi (poetry) composed to deride the stool of the Ooni. The Chiefs also said that they had started the process of removing the Oloyere of Oyere, Oba Adeoye Adefarakan, who they accused of conniving with Adedoyin to tarnish the image of Oba Ogunwusi. Adedoyin is the founder of the Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu and he was conferred with the chieftaincy title by Ooni Ogunwusi’s predecessor, Oba Okunade Sijuwade. Read more

Revoke Metuh’s bail, send him to prison, EFCC tells court (Punch)

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to revoke the bail being enjoyed by a former Publicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party, Olisa Metuh, and send him to prison. Metuh and his company, Destra Investments Limited, are being prosecuted on seven counts, including receiving fraudulently the sum of N400m from the Office of the National Security Adviser in 2014. Read more

I am not desperate for Nigerian Presidency, says Lamido (Nation)

Former Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido on Monday, said that he was not desperate for the position of Nigeria’s president in the 2019 general elections. Lamido said this in Abakaliki when he led his campaign team on a courtesy visit to Gov. David Umahi. The former governor said he would accept the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) decision on its torchbearer for the election. Lamido urged the party to concentrate on nominating its best candidate for the position, noting that the party is blessed with talented and patriotic Nigerians who would represent it and the country equitably. Read more

Maina: Why we are yet to sanction erring officials – HoS (Punch)

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, on Tuesday said no government official has so far been sanctioned over the last year’s controversial reinstatement and subsequent posting of a former Chairman of the Pension Reforms Commission, Abdulrasheed Maina. She said disciplinary actions could not be applied until ongoing investigations were completed and the pending court case on the matter was dispensed with. Oyo-Ita stated this while answering questions from journalists after briefing them of her office’s achievements in the last one year at a press conference in Abuja. Read more

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Tuesday asked President Muhammadu Buhari to jettison his quest for re-election in the 2019 poll. Buhari is yet to declare an interest in the 2019 general elections but some stakeholders and governors of the All Progressives Congress have endorsed him for a second term. However, Obasanjo in a statement titled: ‘THE WAY OUT: A CLARION CALL FOR COALITION FOR NIGERIA MOVEMENT, said the President has performed below expectations and “needs a dignified and honourable dismount” from leading the country. Read more

FG collaborating with judges to frustrate our cases—IPOB (Vanguard)

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has accused the Federal Government of conniving with the judges handling its cases to frustrate the body, through deliberate delay and refusal in approving its applications for certified true copies of processes it filed. This came as the leader of Biafra Independence Movement,BIM, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, has again, appealed to the United States President Donald Trump to accord recognition to Biafra as he did to Jerusalem, the Isreali capital. Read more

Igbo APC leaders re-endorse Buhari for 2nd term (Nation)

Following its Dec 31, 2017 call on President Muhammadu Buhari to run for a second term, the APC leadership in South East on Monday in Abuja reaffirmed the President’s endorsement. The group met with the President at the Presidential Villa where its leader, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, the Minister of Science and Technology, said the group also re-assured Buhari that the party was working very hard to win elections in the PDP-dominated South East. Briefing State House Correspondents, Onu said that the delegation to the Presidency was high-power and the President was very happy about the visit. Read more

Atiku condemns burning of Falae’s farm (Punch)

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the burning of a farm belonging to former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Olu Falae, by suspected Fulani herdsmen. Atiku said in a press statement by his media office in Abuja on Tuesday that arson is a punishable offence under the law and that when the crime is aimed at destroying a private investment, it carries the additional penalty for economic sabotage. He said, “It is a reprehensible act of economic sabotage to wilfully set ablaze any person’s property and investments. Read more

The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has accused the Ekiti State government of blocking his efforts to get the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry report which barred him from holding public office for 10 years. Fayemi said the Governor Ayo Fayose’s administration has been frustrating his efforts to get the report more than one week after it was made public.He particularly accused the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Dupe Alade and the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Kolapo Kolade, of ignoring his written applications for the panel’s report. Read more

I’ll complete all projects in my constituency – Ekweremadu (SUN)

Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, has assured the people of Enugu West Senatorial District that he would complete all the projects he attracted to the zone in record time and according to specifications. Ekweremadu who is representing the district, in the Senate, made the promise during the two-day inspection tour of projects that he attracted to the area. He expressed joy and fulfillment on the pace of work at the different project sites, saying that developing his constituency was the main reason he ventured into politics. Read more

The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Tuesday said President Muhammadu Buhari is committed to strengthening anti-corruption agencies in the country. Fashola, who stated this during an inspection tour of the new Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) ongoing head office building, added that there is a need for “appropriate investment” by government to adequately empower institutions tasked with fighting corruption in the country, in order to afford them the enabling environment “to raise the bar”. Read more

Leather industry is Nigeria’s next gold mine, says minister (ThisDay)

The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, Tuesday said the leather industry is the nation’s next gold mine and holds the key to industrial growth, jobs and wealth creation. Onu, who made the remark at the validation workshop on National Leather and Leather Products Policy held at the Giginya Hotel, Sokoto, described the leather industry as strategic in view of its importance in the economic diversification of the country. The minister, who was represented by the Director General, National Centre for Technology Management, Prof. Okechukwu Okwuoma, noted that the leather industry generates N24.5 billion annually and has the capacity to create about 700,000 direct and indirect jobs. Read more

The Edo State Government has disclosed that it is in talks with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to harness the state’s water resources to generate electricity. This was disclosed by the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, when he received the Coordinator and Officers of the Maritime Security Agency (MSA) during the group’s courtesy visit to the governor at the Government House in Benin City, Edo State. Obaseki said the partnership talks with the UNDP on electricity generation is to strengthen the state government’s efforts to promote economic activities. Read more

The Department of Petroleum Resources ( DPR ) has warned petrol marketers within its Enugu Zone to comply with N145 pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) or have their products dispensed to customers free. Mr Unyime Akpan of Health, Safety and Environment Department, DPR Enugu Office, gave the warning in Awka when he led an enforcement team to Anambra on Tuesday. Akpan said the team sealed one filing station for allegedly refusing to revert and enforced the pump price sale of petrol in nine other stations on Atani road in Ogbaru and some parts of Idemili North Local Government Areas. Read more

Kwara 2019: Unveiling PDP’s ‘surprise’ package (Tribune)

Many political parties had always presented governorship candidates during general elections in Kwara State in recent time, but the real contest had always been between two major ones the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC). Currently in the state, the APC is the ruling party, just as the PDP is the political party in the opposition. While the ruling party will always say that there is no opposition party in the state, leadership and members of the opposition party, through their media activities, have constantly put the ruling party and government on their toes. Read more

Kano Court grants Buhari’s campaigner bail (Vanguard)

A Kano Magistrate court has Tuesday granted stringent bail conditions to the embattled President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term campaigner in Kano Alhaji Dan’Bilki Komanda. The chieftain of All Progressive Congress who was arraigned at magistrate Court 26, Nomansland before Magistrate Kabiru Abubakar on four count charges for impersonation, “defamation of character, inciting the public and lying was granted bail on the sum of two million naira. ” Read more

Falae: Don’t provoke the Yorubas into war – Afenifere (Independent)

Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere on Monday said has condemn the incessant attack on elder statesman, Chief Olu Falae saying those behind the attacks should be careful of not provoking the Yorubas into war. Speaking in an exclusive chat with Independent, Yinka Odumakin, National Publicity of Afenifere said Yorubas cannot continue to watch while its elders and icons are continually rubbished and assaulted. Odumakin who likened the attack on Falae as declaration of war said Yorubas are quiet people who hardly get provoked but added that when they react, the consequences is always disastrous as witnessed in 1963, 1983 and 1993. Read more

Funeral procession held for doctor killed by Lassa fever (Punch)

Medical doctors across Kogi State on Tuesday gathered in Lokoja to pay their last respect to one of their own who died of Lassa fever last Sunday. Late Dr. Idowu Ahmed died on Sunday evening in Irrua, Edo State, aged 30, after attending to a seven-month old baby who also died a day after being admitted. At a procession held at the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, on Tuesday, doctors lamented that they have lost “a great colleague.” As they moved round the hospital premises, they finally settled at the administrative block of the FMC where the Chief Medical Director, Olatunde Alabi, addressed them. Read more

CP seeks media support to tame criminals in Sokoto (Nation)

The new Commissioner of Police in Sokoto State, Mr. Murtala Mani has solicited the support of the media in the task of taming criminal activities in the state. Mani said at an interactive session with newsmen on Tuesday in Sokoto that he would work closely with the media in generating public support to policing in the state. The commissioner stressed that security in the state is everybody’s business, and said the media should create awareness for residents to be security conscious and support security agencies with vital information to tame criminal activities. Read more

Siasia condemns Olamide’s science student, calls for ban (Tribune)

The Chairman of the Nigerian Young Professionals Forum, Mr Moses Siasia, has berated YBNL boss, Olamide Adedeji, known by his stage name Olamide for his latest song ‘science song’ which promote drug abuse, especially among youth. The former Bayelsa State governorship candidate also called on the regulatory bodies to ban the song and ensure that Olamide is dissuade from releasing similar song in the future. Siasia in a statement by his media office, noted that the song is laced with lyrics that not only encouraged the intake of hard drug but shamelessly misinform the listeners on how to mix illicit substances. Read more

Super Eagles Coach Gernot Rohr on Tuesday said that the team’s pacy forward, Ahmed Musa, could be used as a bait to get home support for his team at the World Cup. The Franco-German coach, who just signed a new two-year improved contract, said that Musa would remain an integral part of his plans for the World Cup if his transfer back to Russia materialises. He said that Musa was loved in Russia, adding that the same experience goes for Brian Idowu who is based in Russia but got a standing ovation when he was introduced in the match against Argentina. Read more

Could Kedders be the new Andy Murray? (Nation)

The grandfather of Britain’s new tennis sensation Kyle Edmund spoke of his family’s pride after he roared into the semifinal of the Australian Open. Nicknamed ‘Kedders’, the Yorkshireman stunned the sporting world with a shock win against World Number 3 Grigor Dimitrov – Nicole Scherzinger’s boyfriend. The 23-year-old is now on course to leapfrog Murray, who is out injured, to become the new British No1 – but needs to reach the final first. The victory in Melbourne means Edmund will take home at least £509,000 – adding to his career earnings of £1.5million. He will play Croatian Marin Cilic in the semi-final. Read more

Venus sparks off engagement rumours with Hammond (Nation)

Venus Williams may have booked an early exit at the Australian Open, but she nonetheless had more than enough to showcase at event. Venus who was sent packing 6-3 7-5 by Swiiss Belinda Bencic, sent tongues wagging of engagement rumours when she was pictured sporting an eye-catching diamond band on her ring finger as she walked through Sydney Airport with her millionaire boyfriend Nicholas Hammond, 25, on Tuesday. The tennis ace beamed as she wandered through the terminal, concealing her hand under a large straw hat as she was joined by her mother Oracene Price, 65, and sister Isha, 42. Read more

The Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF) has appointed former World bronze-medalist Ifeoma Iheanacho as a coach/mentor of the junior female team. The appointment of the 30-year old is with immediate effect, as she is expected to join the team in Port Harcourt, where they are preparing for the forth-coming 2018 African Wrestling Championships in the Rivers State capital. Iheanacho is Nigeria’s first-ever medalist (bronze) at the World Wrestling Championships, a feat she achieved in 2009 in Herning, Denmark, while fighting in the 67kg weight category. She also won a second bronze medal for Nigeria at the World Championships, a year later in Moscow, Russia. Read more

Jeff Sessions, the US attorney general and a key Donald Trump campaign adviser, has been interviewed by the investigation into Russian election meddling. Mr. Sessions was asked about whether the US president had obstructed justice, according to The New York Times. It is the first time Robert Mueller, the special counsel leading the investigation, has interviewed a member of Mr Trump’s cabinet. The interview was said to have taken place last week and lasted several hours. Read more

Reforms to address modern-day slavery in Thailand’s fishing fleets haven’t stamped out coercive labor practices in the industry, a leading human rights group says. The report, “Hidden Chains: Forced Labor and Rights Abuses in Thailand’s Fishing Industry,” authored by Human Rights Watch (HRW) was released at a briefing at the European Parliament Tuesday. It asserts that, despite the Thai government’s pronouncements to rein in human rights abuses on board Thai fishing boats, they remain widespread. Read more

Peru approves law to fell stretches of pristine Amazon rainforest for new roads (Independent)

Hours after Pope Francis issued a grave warning about the destruction of the natural environment during a visit to Peru, the country’s government passed a law allowing new roads to be built through pristine areas of the Amazon rainforest. The legislation, announced in the country’s official daily newspaper El Peruano, states that the construction of roads in the Ucayali region of the Amazon has been declared a “priority and national interest”. The remote inland area is populated by isolated indigenous peoples – until 1945 the regional capital Pucallapa was only accessible from the outside by air or river. Read more

Two hundred of the Netherlands’ biggest companies have been told by their government to stop sourcing fuel from a major Dutch gas field within four years following a series of increasingly significant earthquakes. Extraction from the Groningen field, one of Europe’s richest sources of gas, is operated in a joint venture between Royal Dutch Shell and ExxonMobil, but has been capped in recent years by ministers due to seismic activity in the area. Following a quake two weeks ago which registered at 3.4 on the Richter scale – the second-strongest recorded above the gas fields and the biggest in five years – the country’s minister for economic affairs, Eric Wiebes, put major corporations on notice this week. Read more

President Donald Trump has said “nobody knows for sure” whether Democrats and Republicans will agree on a solution for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) programme, after Democrats agreed to end a government shutdown in exchange for renewed debate on the issue. “Nobody knows for sure that the Republicans & Democrats will be able to reach a deal on DACA by February 8, but everyone will be trying,” Mr Trump tweeted, “….with a big additional focus put on Military Strength and Border Security.” Read more

Warning in Philippines to ‘evacuate or face death penalty’ as Mayon volcano threatens deadly eruption (Skynews)

More than 56,000 villagers are now camped in emergency shelters as the Philippines’ most active volcano continues to threaten a potentially deadly eruption. Fountains of red-hot lava and huge plumes of ash gushed thousands of feet into the air above Mount Mayon on Tuesday, less than 24 hours after its most explosive activity since rumblings began just over a week ago. Authorities raised the alert level from three to the second-highest level of four on Monday, meaning that a “hazardous eruption is imminent”, and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has previously warned of “the danger of rockfalls, landslides and sudden explosions”. Read more